LONDON
\nThe WTA is still working to find a resolution to the standoff with China over the Peng Shuai issue but will not return to the country this year, Tour chief Steve Simon said.
\nFormer doubles world number one Peng\u2019s wellbeing became a concern for the WTA after she posted a message on social media last November accusing China\u2019s former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault.
\nThe post was subsequently removed and Peng disappeared from public view for three weeks.
\nThe following month, the WTA suspended all of its tournaments in China, a decision expected to cost the elite women\u2019s tour hundreds of millions of dollars in broadcasting and sponsorship.
\n\u201cWe remain dedicated to finding a resolution to this,\u201d Simon told The Tennis Podcast.
\n\u201cWe want to find a resolution that Peng can be comfortable with, the Chinese government can be comfortable with, and we can be comfortable with.
\n\u201cWe are not about walking away from China. We have suspended our operations there right now. We will continue to do that until we get to a resolution.
\n\u201cWe will stay resolute. We do hope to be back there in 2023 with the resolution that shows progress was made in the space. That\u2019s a victory for the world if we can accomplish that.\u201d Peng, who had already effectively retired from professional tennis, made an appearance at the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February and denied she had accused anyone of sexual assault, adding that she herself had deleted the social media post.
\nThe WTA, however, stuck to its demand for a formal investigation into Peng\u2019s allegations and an opportunity to meet with her privately to discuss the situation.
\n\u201cWe have not had any recent communication with Peng and the world has not seen Peng since the Olympics either,\u201d Simon said.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t think you will make change in this world by walking away from issues. You have to create change.
\n\u201cIt might not be everything we want. But we have to find a solution that finds that balance that allows us to go back and see progress in the area.\u201d The WTA has yet to announce its 2022 calendar for events after the U.S. Open Grand Slam in September, but Simon said the governing body would announce a \u201cfairly solid\u201d autumn schedule within the next two or three weeks.
\nWhile there has been signs of collaboration between the ATP Tour and the WTA since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the men\u2019s Tour has not withdrawn its presence from China and will host four tournaments in the country this season.
\nSimon said he respected the ATP\u2019s position.
\n\u201cTheir difference is that … they don\u2019t have a member that\u2019s affected there,\u201d Simon added. \u201cThey will have to make their own decisions at this point of time.
\n\u201cWould we love to have their support on what we are standing for there and the issues? Absolutely. But we are not trying to influence their decision in any way, it has to be theirs.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LONDON The WTA is still working to find a resolution to the standoff with China over the Peng Shuai issue but will not return to the country this year, Tour chief Steve Simon said. Former doubles world number one Peng\u2019s wellbeing became a concern for the WTA after she posted a message on social media […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":257642,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[18,6497,1348,6496],"class_list":{"0":"post-257632","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-china","9":"tag-peng-case","10":"tag-resolution","11":"tag-wta"},"yoast_head":"\n